I 100% want to do a PhD in my chosen field (engineering). I've applied at the uni where I did my undergrad - an excellent London university - for funding (with the Economic Social Research Council). I have been been shortlisted for interview. My supervisors are extremely keen as I am strong candidate. I have a dilemma as I do not feel passionate about the specific topic (they wrote the proposal and I got on board later). It has been nagging me since day one but I went with the flow. If I back out now will it harm my references? Or if I continue to go with the flow and then get offered the funding and back out, would that be even worse? I want to be able to apply at UCL again (and other unis - with decent references from my UCL advisors) - am I blowing my chances? Any advice PLEASE!!!

I know I should have spoken up sooner but I did not have as much insight as I do now and thought I had better just take the opportunity.

Tell your supervisors your concerns - you might be able to work on something more interesting to you as a side topic.

Also, bear in mind although you are not passionate about the topic now, after several years of obsessing over it, you might be. This happens to a lot of people. Sometimes of course it goes the other way and people hate their PhDs. It depends on the person.

If you back out it doesn't look great, but it's possible to recover from it.

Considering sticking it out at this stage as you may not even get it anyway.

Hi,

I also joined the phd with a funding proposal that my supervisors wrote.

We were lucky to get the funding. My supervisor got then funding for a big new project. So he merged my funding with the new big project changing the initial proposal significantly. I am not sure to what extent you may change ESRC projects, I guess there is flexibility.

I was vaguely interested in the area, and the more worked on my phd the more I loved my subject. After I finish the phd I want to get a job on the same topic, and specialise even further. From my personal experience I would prioritise other factors if you are remotely interested to the subject: do you have a good relationship with your supervisors? (That's a major make or break point)

Is there specialised help available? ( for example your project involves coding and you lack skills).

You get the point. Imagine getting the phd of your dreams in a lab that all equipment breaks and take ages to repair. Or your supervisor is a bully and you cry yourself to sleep every night . Or you need to do this cutting edge analysis that costs a gazillion pounds while your funding is enough for one conference. I ve seen all of them happen to people around me. Not fun.

Good luck.

Hello, i was in this position too. I hated my phd topic, probably for the first two years, but now i can genuinly say im passionate about it.

Thank you for all for replying... It was amazing to sign in on here and read these responses. It was very encouraging to know that there are other people who have been in the same boat.

There are aspects of the project that I certainly would enjoy. The support and facilities would be very good. My relationship with the supervisors is good. So I am going to continue and see what the outcome will be.

Cheers!